Grace was pleasantly surprised at dinner to see that her Uncle Joseph had still not left for the south. He was sat at the very end of the long, silver laden, table next to her grandfather who was always positioned at the head. They were speaking animatedly and she thought that Joseph looked far happier than the day before; his eyes twinkled like opals and his cheeks were flushed with humour. He threw back his head to laugh at something Lord Cornwallis had said.
'Oh father, you are a rogue sometimes', he declared.
Grace passed her cousins (noting Jane's blank expression) to take up the empty seat next to Joseph; but just as she was about to do so Tavington firm hand grasped her arm, pulling her back slightly to stop her. She jolted at his touch. Surrounded by her family she had almost been able to forget the presence of Tavington and the fact that she was now also a part of his family.
'Sit with your cousins,' he said in a tone just low enough to avoid the ears of the others but firmly enough as to tell Grace it was an order. She scowled. Eliza and Jane were flanked by the insipid Miss Stanley and her gossiping companion Miss Harrrow. Grace couldn't think of a worse combination. Their conversation was always as dull as their senses. Unfortunately she did not want a scene. Tavington's piercing eyes were watching her carefully and she knew that if she ignored him he would humiliate her in some way. Sighing she complied.
Joseph looked up as Tavington took up his seat. His expression immediately transformed as his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched.
'Good evening Lieutenant. General', Tavington said bowing to Cornwallis and his son in turn. 'Lieutenant I see that you have decided to prolong your stay.'
Joseph gave a slight nod in recognition but his eyes remained fierce.
'Good evening', Lord Cornwallis said. His bulbous nose was glowing with the consumption of mead. He had thoroughly enjoyed his afternoon with his youngest son and had even been thinking more favourably of the idea of repositioning him somewhat closer even though it would mean a closer proximity to battle. He decided to extend him amicability to Tavington. 'You may dispel the formalities at the dinner table if you wish Colonel; after all you are family now – on condition that the men are not around to witness it', he added as an afterthought.
Tavington searched the table. The only dinner guests that evening were the family of Lord Cornwallis and the two ladies who seemed to think of themselves as family. A pleased smile curled at his lips as he noted the absence of General O' Hara.
'As you wish my Lord,' he said, understanding at once that Cornwallis was not referring to himself. 'Of course only if it is agreeable to you Joseph?'
Tavington could sense from Joseph's reddening cheeks and pursed lips that it was not agreeable at all, but there was little that he could do. If he refused Tavington this grace publicly then he would have to explain that he thought his father's choice of a match for his niece ill-advised.
'Certainly William'.
Tavington found it was his turn to grimace. In his haste to enjoy the younger man's discomfort he had quite forgotten that it would be returned. He did not at all delight in having an inferior ranking soldier address him by his Christian name – in fact this was something that he had allowed from few since he gained his title.
Even from across the room Grace could sense Tavington stiffen at the use of his given name. She smiled.
'Perhaps, grandfather, you could persuade the Colonel to extend the concession to his wife,' she ventured brightly. Faced with the opportunity she was not able to resist the urge to push Tavington further. Tavington's hand tensed around the stem of the crystal goblet in his hand. He glared at Grace, but with such an audience he found that he had to realign his face into forced amicability.
'Certainly he must,' Miss Harrow interrupted, peering over her half-moon spectacles to regard Tavington with the air of a school-mistress. 'You cannot expect your wife to address you as your men do, Colonel Tavington, it is unforgivably coarse.'
Tavington forced his eyes to hide their anger as he turned to the aged spinster. He felt that he could have happily strangled her with the thick gold chain that hung on her oversized neck but instead he curled his lips into a smile.
'Perhaps William thinks it is improper for such a youthful bride to name him as equal', Joseph said grinning. He smiled at Grace, 'Even when her beauty and intelligence more than compensate for her maturity.'
'Why thank-you uncle,' Grace said, returning the smile, 'you are most generous – Isn't he William?'
Tavington flinched. 'Not at all my dear', he said through gritted teeth, his anger transferring readily to Grace. He sated himself by visualising a later repayment.
Apparently satisfied with this response Miss Harrow and the other ladies returned to their enthralling discussion about the virtues of a proper length of skirt. Lord Cornwallis returned to his son's future.
'Joseph grows thirsty for battle Colonel,' Cornwallis said as a young maid piled a large quantity of mutton onto his plate. 'He tires of his strategic role.'
'Indeed,' Tavington said, as though hearing this for the first time. 'Well I suppose it is only natural given that he has seen so little of battle. After all,' he added, turning to Joseph with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes, 'it is what we are trained for is it not?'
'Quite', said Lord Cornwallis, ushering the maid away to fetch more wine. 'but a battle is not won by combat alone, Colonel. There are those of us who must plan the movements of the men from beyond the field otherwise we would be no better than a stampede of cattle; well dressed cattle of course - maybe even a few boars among us,' he added with a pointed look at Tavington, 'but cattle nevertheless.'
Tavington felt his cheeks redden. He did not like the insinuation that he was somehow a boar in fancy clothing. He kept his temper however – he was used to unflattering jibes from the general. Anyway it was too good an opportunity to waste on anger – his eyes glinted as he thought of how readily Cornwallis and his son were playing into his hands.
'I suppose that you hanker after a position in South Carolina,' he said casually, at the same time pronging his cut of mutton with a fork. 'There is a battle set to follow the one at Monck's Corner I'd wager.'
'Oh I think we will break the colonials soon after Monck's corner Colonel,' Cornwallis interrupted.
'Perhaps my Lord,' Tavington said. He actually thought there was little chance of 'breaking' anyone when the Ghost was still in operation but he did not voice this – Cornwallis had an unwavering (and somewhat arrogant) confidence in his military brain and he did not want to anger him by contradicting him. 'Still I think if they were to resurge it would almost certainly fall to Waxhaws.'
From the corner of his eye Tavington note Joseph sit up slightly.
'If it does of course,' Tavington went on 'we will need the assistance of further mounted infantry – men who are expertly trained on horseback and can handle their sabres from horse – the fields in Waxhaws are as uneven as the cobbled streets of London.'
Ederick turned to participate in the conversation. 'Joseph has spent more time in the saddle than any man I know,' he said. He had the feeling that Tavington was up to something as he had purposefully raised his voice in his direction and shot him a silent look that Ederick knew from experience directed him to support him.
'Indeed', said Tavington enquiringly, again as though he had not had the slightest idea that Joseph Cornwallis was one of the most able horsemen in the British army. Actually Ederick had filled him in, in some detail, on Joseph's strengths and weaknesses as a soldier.
'Father,' Joseph said, sensing his chance, 'if horsemen are required then I could assist. I can train any soldier to marry himself to saddle and if we are to rely on cavalry to take the field then there is none better to serve such a cause than I.'
'Confident isn't he?' Ederick said with a smirk. 'You have to admire his eager spirit though General, and he has been shy of action so far.'
'Yes, thank you Henry,' Cornwallis said curtly, his good-humour beginning to sour at the direction this conversation was heading, 'but as usual Tavington's zeal for engagement runs away with itself – there will be no battle at Waxhaws.'
'But if there is father,' Joseph pressed.
'If there is then Tavington himself will be quite capable of leading the Dragoons to the field if I so order it.'
Cornwallis was now glaring squarely at Tavington. He cursed him for bringing the matter to Joseph's attention. If there was to be a battle at Waxhaws then it would be bloody.
'Of course', Tavington said, feeling that now the groundwork had been set he could relax slightly. 'I would be honoured to triumph in what would be such an important battle. You see, Joseph, I am quite an able horseman myself.'
Joseph hesitated before he continued. He was torn between his distrust and dislike of Tavington and his desperation to secure a position that would allow him the respect of his doubters and the pride of serving his king and country. He exhaled deeply.
'Perhaps, Colonel, you would not be disagreeable to the service of another in the regiment of the Dragoons?'
Tavington sat back in his chair, picking idly at the bones of his leg of mutton. He had noted with satisfaction Joseph's formal address. He shot a slight warning glance at Ederick who had started at the suggestion that Joseph might desire to serve in the Dragoons.
'Well,' began Tavington, pretending to weigh up the matter.
Unfortunately at this point Cornwallis's fist connected loudly with the table causing the ladies at the other end to jump and swivel round.
'Listen to me, BOY,' he said furiously. 'I am the commander of the British army not Colonel Tavington. You will not attempt to procure a position which you know to be disagreeable to myself at my table and right under my nose. And you, Colonel,' he said, turning his anger on Tavington, 'you will not encourage it. Just you remember your position.'
'Yes my Lord,' Tavington said, colouring slightly at the General's anger. Inwardly he fumed – Joseph had been almost in his grasp before the General had snatched him away.
'But father it makes sense …' Joseph said, his fists balled on the chair rests. He had not liked having to appeal to Tavington and he did not wish it to have been in vain.
'Not to me,' Cornwallis said. 'Now drop the matter or you will find yourself sent back to England more rapidly than a ball from a cannon. Now this is a family meal and I will not have it disturbed with any more talk of war.'
Joseph was now crimson. He resented being spoken to in such a way in front of Tavington and Ederick. However, he could sense defeat.
'Besides,' Cornwallis went on more gently, seeing his son's distress, 'there is not room for another officer in the Dragoons. There are already two lieutenants and you are not as yet ready for the position of Captain. Now let's not have this talk any longer. Ladies what were you discussing …?'
Further down the table Grace, at the same time pretending to be unwaveringly interested in the most flattering way to lace a corset, had kept an ear upon the exchange between the men. From what she could gather it had looked as though Tavington was about to agree to Joseph's hankering to join the Dragoons – it didn't make sense, Tavington had been more than derogatory towards her Uncle at their last meeting.
She was distracted from her thoughts by Eliza who had leaned close to her and was whispering.
'Sorry,' muttered Grace, 'what was it that you said Eliza?'
'I said', Eliza said raising her voice only slightly, 'that Jane confined herself to her chambers for the entire afternoon. It was most uncharacteristic.'
Grace turned to look at Eliza – her eyes were lined with concern. It made her look even more like an old maid than usual. Grace felt slightly irritated at the way Eliza kept confiding in her. They had never been close – Eliza thought her too 'unpredictable'; but it seemed now she was married Eliza took it for granted that she would be more sedate.
Still Jane had been on her mind. She had tried to find an opportunity to speak with her on her own before dinner, but as Eliza said she had confined herself to her room. As she looked at her now she could see that something was troubling her. She was pretending to participate in the conversation that had been taken up by the table but her eyes kept wandering to the window and casting themselves far over the meadows.
'If she doesn't brighten up I'm afraid I shall have to speak to father about her', Eliza went on.
'No, don't do that', Grace said. Eliza looked slightly taken aback. 'I mean,' Grace went on quickly, 'I will speak with her. See if I can find out what is bothering her. It might be something that she doesn't feel she can talk to you about.'
'Oh would you Grace?' Eliza said eagerly. 'I do so hate seeing her so troubled.'
'Of course,'
'You know,' Eliza went on, 'I do believe that marriage agrees with you Grace. Even though it has been only a few weeks since your engagement was announced you seem somehow more mature.'
Grace grimaced – she did not take it a s a compliment that the sage Eliza found her mature, besides which her marriage was far from 'agreeable.' She cast her eyes up the table towards Tavington. Since her grandfather had left the subject of war she had felt his eyes frequently upon her. It was unsettling how her flesh raised in bumps in response. She had the feeling that he was going to take his revenge for what she had said to the table earlier – he had the innate inability to take a joke.
